Notheast Ohio businessman sentenced to prison, house arrest for corruption

AKRON, Ohio -- Sam Qasem,
a once-prominent leader in Northeast Ohio's Arab community, was sentenced this afternoon to four months in federal prison for crimes related to the public corruption investigation in Cuyahoga County.

U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi also tacked on four months of house arrest after his release from prison. The prison time falls below federal sentencing guidelines, which called for Qasem to receive a term of eight to 14 months.

"I really wanted to make a difference," the 61-year-old, Jordan-born immigrant told the judge, trying to explain why he became politically active and bribed public officials. "I made a mistake in how I went about this."

Qasem learned his fate hours after his co-defendant and onetime business partner Samir Mohammad was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison for paying thousands of dollars in bribes to then-county Auditor Frank Russo, then-County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora and other public officials.

U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi also ordered Mohammad, 46, once a top aide to Russo, to forfeit $50,000 to the county and pay a $10,000 fine.

"I
regret everything," Mohammad said during a separate one-hour hearing in U.S. District Court. "I
apologize that I got caught up in the corruption at that level."

His sentence reflects a deal he struck with prosecutors last year after he pleaded guilty to five corruption-related crimes.

Mohammad
could have been held behind bars for up to 6½ years, but received the
reduced sentence in exchange for providing substantial assistance to FBI
investigators on other public corruption cases.

He pleaded guilty
to conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to commit bribery,
extortion and conspiracy, tampering with a witness, and lying to federal
agents. He also agreed to forfeit $50,000 that he received as a
kickback from a county contractor.

Qasem previously pleaded guilty to
conspiracy to commit racketeering, and could receive from one to two
years in prison, depending on the amount of assistance he provides to
prosecutors.

Meanwhile, the business partners are embroiled in a
lawsuit in Common Pleas Court. Mohammad accuses Qasem of stealing from
their co-owned businesses, of pocketing more than his fair share of
their joint income, and of fraudulently transferring controlling
interest of property to his wife.

Common Pleas Judge John
O'Donnell granted Mohammad's request for a temporary restraining order
on Qasem, and has scheduled a hearing for later today on a motion for a
preliminary injunction against Qasem. Mohammad is seeking more than
$25,000 in damages.

Mohammad and Qasem co-own gas stations in
Cuyahoga Falls and North Randall, plus a condominium, commercial
property and real estate in Cleveland.

Mohammad is a central
figure in the ongoing corruption investigation, which has resulted in
more than 60 government officials, county workers and contractors being
convicted of crimes including bribery, kickbacks, and payoffs in
exchange for jobs and business contracts.

Mohammad has admitted
paying a $20,000 bribe in October 2003 to Dimora with the hope of
securing a job as deputy county administrator. Some of the money was
used to entertain Dimora at a casino in Canada. Mohammad failed to get
the job.

Mohammad also has confessed to bribing Russo to obtain
jobs for friends and family members and of paying Russo to obtain the
job of chief deputy auditor.

Mohammad and Qasem offered "things of
value" to Dimora, Russo and other public officials in exchange for jobs
and favorable personnel decisions, according to the charges. Some of
the beneficiaries belonged to the Cleveland American Middle East
Organization, an Arab-American political action group.

Qasem's son, Haddi, worked for Russo until 2008.

Russo
is serving time in a federal prison in Pennsylvania as punishment for
21 corruption-related crimes. Federal prosecutors have asked Lioi to
reduce Russo's 22-year sentence in exchange for his assistance on other
cases.

Dimora is serving a 28-year sentence for racketeering and other corruption-related crimes.

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